02 WarCry Christmas 2014
Happy Christmas Celebrate Jesus WAR CRY
The Salvation Army Te Ope Whakaora New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga Territory FOUNDER William Booth GENERAL André Cox TERRITORIAL COMMANDER Robert Donaldson The Salvation Army’s message is based on the Bible. Our ministry is motivated by love for God. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in his name without discrimination. War Cry exists to support and advance The Salvation Army’s message, ministry and mission.
EDITOR
Major Christina Tyson GRAPHIC DESIGN
Lauren Millington, Amber Wilkinson STAFF WRITERS
Ingrid Barratt, Robin Raymond, Vanessa Singh CONTRIBUTORS
Kris Singh (music reviewer)
PROOF READING
Major Jill Gainsford COVER
Photo: Marsden Cross monument, Hohi Bay Photography: Rob Suisted/naturespic.com OFFICE Territorial Headquarters, 204 Cuba Street, PO Box 6015, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 Phone (04) 384 5649 Fax (04) 382 0716 Email warcry@nzf.salvationarmy.org www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry SUBSCRIPTIONS Salvationist Resources Department Phone (04) 382 0768 Email mailorder@nzf.salvationarmy.org $75 per year within NZ PRINT MANAGEMENT MakeReady | www.makeready.co.nz
This Christmas, New Zealand churches focus on the bicentennial of the first Christian service held on New Zealand soil. On Christmas Day 1814, the Rev Samuel Marsden assembled with a few Europeans and several hundred Māori on the foreshore below Rangihoua Pā in the Bay of Islands—on the beautiful site pictured on our cover. Sailors visiting New Zealand had probably held services while moored here, and other missionaries had worshipped among themselves. But Marsden’s Christmas Day service was the first provided specifically for New Zealand’s tangata whenua, obeying the command Jesus gave the first believers: ‘to go and make disciples of all nations … and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you’ (Matthew 28:19–20). I’m indebted to Graham Cameron for his perspective on the event we commemorate this year. Graham makes the point that it was Ngāpuhi chief Ruatara who established the bridge over which Marsden passed. Ruatara was prepared to lay his own mana on the line so these Christians could tell the story of Jesus to Ruatara’s people. For us today, as we seek to make Jesus known, we need to look for ways to build bridges with others who can help us meet the challenges of fresh mission fields. Our feature story is about Wi Pirihi. Like Ruatara, Wi is also from Ngāpuhi. Outwardly successful, Wi’s life was empty until he let the story of Jesus sink into his life. At the close of this year, I want to thank our wonderful readers for your support of War Cry. If you’d like to re-read any of the past year’s editions, we’re now publishing these online. Visit www.salvationarmy.org.nz/warcry and follow the link. On behalf of the War Cry team, it’s our prayer that you enjoy a refreshing Christmas and a happy and safe New Year. If you have the opportunity, please come and worship at The Salvation Army. We’d love to celebrate Jesus with you! Christina Tyson Editor
BIBLE VERSE
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Luke 2:10–11 The Message PAPER Novatech is an environmentally responsible paper manufactured under environmental management system ISO14001 using FSC Certified, Mixed Source, ECF pulp from well managed and legally harvested forests.
‘The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Saviour has just been born in David’s town, a Saviour who is Messiah and Master.” ’ Ruka 2:10–11
Member of the Australasian Religious Press Association. All Bible references from the Holy Bible, New International Version, unless otherwise stated. Articles are copyrighted to The Salvation Army, except where indicated, and may be reprinted only with permission.
‘Nā ka mea te anahera ki a rātou, Kaua e mataku: tā te mea he kaikauwhau tēnei ahau ki a koutou mō te hari nui, meāke puta mai ki te iwi katoa. Nō nāianei hoki i whānau ai he Kaiwhakaora mō koutou i te pā o Rāwiri, arā a te Karaiti, te Ariki.’
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Publishing for 131 years
ISSN 0043-0242, Issue 6606 Please pass on or recycle this magazine
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WISE WORDS
… We have no words to contain our praise. We ache with awe, we tremble with miracle, as once again, in the small rough stable of our lives, Christ is born. Joy Cowley Nativity
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